Gelfman Raises Funds for MVP Basketball and Wilson Honored by ADA

MVP Basketball Camp, a nonprofit organization in White Plains has never turned away a camper due to an inability to pay. Through its Youth Development Scholarship Program, over 300 basketball-loving children annually attend a week at MVP at no charge, and receive instruction and mentoring that extends far beyond the four corners of the court.

To meet the challenge of funding this program, a group of former campers from all over Westchester formed a volunteer Junior Board of Directors, led by Board President Max Gelfman of Scarsdale (pictured fourth from the right). The board's first fundraising event, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, raised more than $1,000 and will allow MVP to extend four additional scholarships in the summer of 2013.

The tournament was held at the Highlands Middle School in White Plains on March 10th and attracted more than 80 boys and girls playing in three different divisions. All participants were high school students, and a majority just finished their varsity seasons. Among they players were Max Gelfman, Robbie Irwin, Robbie Keltz, Caleb Krohn, Christian Landegrebe, Michael Rolfe and Sam Squadron of Scarsdale. Six MVP coaches volunteered their time as referees, but this show belonged to the board. They served pizza, organized the brackets, kept score, and still found time to participate in the games and contests. Junior Board member Zach Evans of Harrison took home the trophy in the 3-point contest, and his team also won the boys varsity bracket of the 3-on-3 tournament.

MVP's Junior Board currently has fourteen members, including five who were scholarship recipients during their summers at camp. They meet four times per year and act as an advisory committee for Executive Director Noel Muyskens in addition to running an event. They will also support MVP's next fundraiser, a second annual Ping Pong Family night at the Westchester Table Tennis Center in Pleasantville on the evening of Friday, May 3rd. More information about this event can be found here: www.mvpbasketballcamp.org.

MVP will run six weeks of camp this summer at two convenient locations in Westchester. There are six programs weekly for boys and girls ages 6 – 16. Scholarship awards are given based on financial need, plus a letter of recommendation from school. Forms and online registration are available on MVP's website.

ADA and Father's Day Council Announces 2013 Father of the Year Honorees:

Michael Wilson, of Scarsdale's Wilson & Son Jewelers, was one of four Westchester fathers named as a 2013 Fathers of the Year by the American Diabetes Association at a reception on February 28th at the Tappan Hill Mansion in Tarrytown, NY. The other honorees are:

• Nadem Sayegh, MD, Endocrinologist, Broadway Medical Services and St. Joseph's Medical Center
• Kenneth R. Theobalds, Vice President Government Affairs, Entergy
• Michael W. Weinstock, Group Vice President, M & T Bank

The ADA will honor these men for their outstanding commitment to their children and the values of fatherhood at the 8th annual Father of the Year Awards Gala on June 13th at Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor, NY.

The American Diabetes Association's mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information, call the ADA in Westchester at 914-253-4909 or visit www.diabetes.org.